Trophic Level Influence on Stable Hydrogen Isotopic Composition of Bat Fur

Author

Leslie M. Erdman, The University of Western OntarioFollow

Degree

Master of Science

Program

Biology

Supervisor

Brock Fenton

Abstract

The effect of trophic level on the isotopic compositions of nitrogen (δ¹⁵N), carbon (δ¹³C) and oxygen (δ¹⁸O) is well documented, but the effect that trophic level has on the stable hydrogen isotopic composition of bat fur (δ²H_fur) is not known. This can have implications when assigning the locations of origin of bats in migration studies that use δ²H_fur. I hypothesized that if there is an effect of trophic level on δ²H_fur, then δ²H_fur would correlate positively with trophic level. I tested this possibility by correlating δ²H_fur with δ¹⁵N_fur and δ¹³C_fur, which both positively correlate with trophic level, and with δ¹⁸O_fur, which does not correlate with trophic level. My results show that δ²H_fur increases by 15 to 40 ‰ per trophic level, which supports my hypothesis. Understanding the effect that trophic level has on δ²H_fur can help researchers assign more accurate locations of origin for bats. Together, δ¹⁵N_fur, δ¹³C_fur and δ²H_fur can help determine what bats are eating at the individual or population level.

Recommended Citation

Erdman, Leslie M., "Trophic Level Influence on Stable Hydrogen Isotopic Composition of Bat Fur" (2013). Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository. 1657.
https://ir.lib.uwo.ca/etd/1657